Italy – Rome: Ti amo, Roma!

It’s only a short three-hour flight away from Amsterdam, but it took me 27 years before I first visited Rome. As soon as the airport train entered the city center I was hooked on this incredible city, which is more like an ancient open air museum.

Walking through history
Make sure you’re wearing comfortable shoes, because Rome is best explored on foot. The streets of Rome are like an open air museum. Everywhere you look you will find beautiful, old characteristic buildings, and at almost every 100 meter you’ll come across a church, one even more breathtakingly beautiful than the other.

The absolute must-sees
Step into the world of the Romans and the Gladiators by visiting the impressive Colosseum. Marvel at the old remains of the ancient city of Rome by delving into the wonders of the Roman Forum. And don’t forget to pay a visit to the Pope at the St Peters Square. And while you’re in the worlds most smallest country, the Vatican, the St Peters Basilica is also very much worth your while. Just around the corner of the Basilica, you can enter the huge line for the Vatican Museum. It may be a terribly long wait, but once you’re in you realize it was worth it.

Hard decisions: pizza or pasta tonight?
If you love pizza, if you love pasta, if you love cappuccino – you ain’t seen nothing yet. The pizza in Rome is exquisite, the pasta is mouthwatering and the cappuccino is heavenly. Try to look for the less touristy places in small alleys or streets, where you’ll find the best pizzas and pastas for under 10 euros. Oh, and don’t forget to devour a piece of tiramisu!

Rome’s most lovely neighborhood
Rome knows many neighborhoods such as Quadraro and Garbatella, but Trastevere is the best of them all. In this cosy Italian district, located at a beautiful riverside, you’ll find many, many bars and restaurants. Strolling through this neighborhood will give you the illusion of having stepped into a romantic Italian movie.

If you ever have the chance to visit Europe, make sure you wander around Rome for a few days. It scores a 10/10 on history, food and atmosphere, and it will be a citytrip you’ll be talking about for many years to come.